Cloud service broker apparatus and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A cloud service broker apparatus and method thereof are provided. The cloud service broker apparatus includes a controller configured to provide a brokerage service between a plurality of cloud service providers and a cloud service user by dividing a cloud service requested by the cloud service user into a plurality of cloud service segments and distributing each of the cloud service segments to each of the clouds.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.10-2015-0110184, filed on Aug. 4, 2015, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The following description relates to a cloud service, and moreparticularly, to a cloud service integration and brokerage.

2. Description of the Related Art

A cloud service broker apparatus provides a brokerage service to enablea cloud service user to use a cloud offered by a cloud service provider.The cloud service broker selects a cloud suitable for the cloud serviceuser from among associated multiple clouds, and controls a cloud serviceto be deployed and executed in the selected cloud and delivered to thecloud service user.

The cloud service broker may earn arbitrage profit from the brokerageservice between the cloud service providers and the cloud service user,or it may only serve as a tool for the cloud service user to select asuitable cloud. Hence, to increase the profit or user satisfaction, thecloud service broker may need to select an optimal cloud that can createprofit while satisfying the user's desired quality of servicerequirements.

SUMMARY

The following description relates to a cloud service broker apparatusand method thereof which can create profit for a cloud service brokerwhile satisfying a cloud service user's desired quality of servicerequirements.

In one general aspect, there is provided a cloud service brokerapparatus including: a controller configured to provide a brokerageservice between a plurality of cloud service providers and a cloudservice user by dividing a cloud service requested by the cloud serviceuser into a plurality of cloud service segments and distributing each ofthe cloud service segments to each of the clouds.

The controller may divide a single cloud service requested by the cloudservice user into the plurality of cloud service segments based onservice prices, and distribute each of the cloud service segments toeach of the clouds.

The controller may provide the cloud service user with a single accessaddress such that the cloud service user recognize the cloud servicesegments as a single cloud service.

In another general aspect, there is provided a cloud service brokerapparatus including: an analyzer configured to analyze cloud informationand requirements of a cloud service user for a cloud service request; aservice divider configured to divide the requested cloud service into aplurality of cloud service segments according to time intervals based onan analysis from the analyzer; and a service allocator configured todistribute and place each of the plurality of cloud service segments ineach of clouds using mapping information of the cloud service segmentsand the clouds.

The cloud information may include types of cloud services provided by acloud, a service provide and Service Level Agreement (SLA), and therequirements for requested cloud service may include a cloud serviceuser's desired service price, type and performance level of requestedcloud service.

The service divider may select an available cloud group consisting ofclouds that can provide the cloud service requested by the cloud serviceuser, compare service prices among the clouds belonging to the availablecloud group, time-divide the requested cloud service into the pluralityof cloud service segments, each of which allows the service price toremain in the lowest during each of the time intervals, and designateeach of the clouds to each of the cloud service segments.

The service divider may compare service prices among clouds that belongto an available cloud group, select a cloud that provides the lowestservice price at a designated time point, and select a cloud serviceprovided by the selected cloud as a cloud service segment for a timeinterval from the designated time point until another cloud provides alower service price.

The service divider may perform service segmentation on the requestedcloud service and switch one cloud service segment to another cloudservice segment at each time point at which service price lines ofadjacent clouds cross each other, and repeatedly perform the cloudservice segmentation on a total length of the requested cloud service.

The service allocator may request a designated cloud for placement of acloud service segment at a time of use of the requested cloud service,or schedule placement of a cloud service segment in a designated cloudin order for the cloud service user to use the requested cloud serviceat a desired time.

The cloud service broker apparatus may further include a service managerconfigured to provide a single access address to the cloud service usersuch that the cloud service user recognizes the divided cloud servicesegments as a single cloud service.

In response to an access of the cloud service user to a desired cloudservice through the access address, the service manager may forward anaccess attempt from the cloud service user to a cloud that provides acloud service segment of the desired cloud service.

The service manager supports service migration between clouds when aprovider of the cloud service segment is switched from one cloud toanother cloud.

The service manager may support service migration that maintainsconsistency of a cloud service by transmitting only information about astatus of the cloud service to the cloud.

The service manager may support service migration by generating an imageof the cloud service through snapshot and allowing another cloud toreproduce the cloud service through the image.

In yet another general aspect, there is provided a cloud service brokermethod including: analyzing cloud information and requirements of acloud service user for a cloud service request; dividing the requestedcloud service into a plurality of cloud service segments according totime intervals based on an analysis; and distributing and placing eachof the plurality of cloud service segments to each of clouds usingmapping information of the cloud service segments and the clouds.

The dividing of the cloud service into the plurality of cloud servicesegments may include: selecting an available cloud group consisting ofclouds that can provide the cloud service requested by the cloud serviceuser; comparing service prices among the clouds belonging to theavailable cloud group, time-dividing the requested cloud service intothe plurality of cloud service segments, each of which allows theservice price to remain in the lowest during each of the time intervals;and designating each of the clouds to each of the cloud servicesegments.

The time-dividing of the cloud service may include comparing serviceprices among the clouds that belong to the available cloud group,selecting a cloud that provides the lowest service price at a designatedtime point, and selecting a cloud service provided by the selected cloudas a cloud service segment for a time interval from the designated timepoint until another cloud provides a lower service price.

The distribution and placement in each of the clouds comprisesrequesting a designated cloud for placement of a cloud service segmentat a time of use of the requested cloud service, or scheduling placementof a cloud service segment in a designated cloud in order for the cloudservice user to use the requested cloud service at a desired time.

The cloud service broker method may further include providing a singleaccess address to the cloud service user such that the cloud serviceuser recognizes the divided cloud service segments as a single cloudservice.

The cloud service broker method may further include, in response to anaccess of the cloud service user to a desired cloud service through theaccess address, forwarding an access attempt from the cloud service userto a cloud that provides a cloud service segment of the desired cloudservice; and supporting service migration between clouds when a providerof the cloud service segment is switched from one cloud to anothercloud.

Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detaileddescription, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the distribution andplacement of cloud services by a cloud service broker apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a cloud servicesystem according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating in detail the cloud service brokerapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a cloud service segmentation anddistribution, placement process by the cloud service broker apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a service segmentation process by aservice divider and an example of service segmentation using a graph ofclouds' service prices p over time t.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a service placement process performedby a service allocator according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a service connection managementprocess by the service manager according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing cloud service prices of clouds over time forexplaining the effects of cloud service placement by the cloud servicebroker apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the cloud service segmentation anddistribution according to the exemplary embodiment.

Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwisedescribed, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood torefer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative sizeand depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity,illustration, and convenience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is provided to assist the reader in gaining acomprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systemsdescribed herein. Accordingly, various changes, modifications, andequivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described hereinwill be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. Also,descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omittedfor increased clarity and conciseness.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the distribution andplacement of cloud services by a cloud service broker apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

Generally, a cloud service provider provides a cloud service at a fixedprice or at a price that varies over time. The existing methods for thecloud service provider to provide services only allow the cloud servicebroker apparatus to deploy only a single cloud service in a singlecloud.

However, because geographically distributed clouds are in differentconditions and have different policies, they may have different serviceprice distributions. Thus, the cloud service broker apparatus 1according to the exemplary embodiment is to perform segmentation of asingle cloud service into a plurality of cloud service segments anddistribute and place the cloud service segments in multiple clouds,thereby being capable of simultaneously utilizing the distributedmultiple clouds.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the cloud service broker apparatus 1dynamically distributes and places a cloud service 100 requested by acloud service user (or a cloud service consumer) in multiple clouds200-1, 200-2, and 200-3 in order to maximize the advantages of thedistributed multiple clouds. At this time, the cloud service brokerapparatus 1 divides the requested cloud service into a plurality ofcloud service segments 100-1, 100-2, and 100-3, each of which allows theservice price p to remain in the lowest over time t. Then, the cloudservice broker apparatus 1 distributes and deploys the cloud servicesegments in the respective clouds 200-1, 200-2, and 200-3. By doing so,the cloud service broker apparatus 1 is able to provide the cloudservice user with the cloud service at a lower price.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a cloud servicesystem according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the cloud service system includes a cloud serviceuser 2, cloud service providers 3-1, 3-2, . . . , and 3-n, and a cloudservice broker apparatus 1 that provides a brokerage service between thecloud service user 2 and the cloud service providers 3-1, 3-2, . . . ,and 3-n.

The cloud service providers 3-1, 3-2, . . . , and 3-n are geographicallydistributed. In response to a request from the cloud service user 2, thecloud service broker apparatus 1 selects a cloud suitable for theconsumer demand, and requests the selected cloud to execute therequested cloud service.

The cloud service broker apparatus 1 divides the cloud service, which isrequested by the cloud service user 2, into a plurality of cloud servicesegments. Then the cloud service broker apparatus 1 performs thedistribution and placement of the plurality of cloud service segmentsacross the clouds. Each of the clouds provides the cloud servicesegment. In this case, a single cloud service, which is requested by thecloud service user, may be divided into multiple cloud service segmentsbased on the service prices, and then distribution and placement of thecloud service segments in the multiple clouds may be performed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating in detail the cloud service brokerapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the cloud service broker apparatus 1includes an inputter 10, a controller 12, and a storage module 14. Thecontroller 12 may include an analyzer 120, a service divider 122, aservice allocator 124, and a service manager 126.

The inputter 10 collects cloud information of all registered cloudservice providers. The cloud information may relate to the types ofcloud services offered by each cloud, service prices, service levelagreement (SLA), and the like. The inputter 10 receives a cloud servicerequest from the cloud service user. In addition to the request for thecloud service, the inputter 10 may also receive a user's requirementsregarding a desired price for the requested cloud service, a type ofservice, and a performance level of the service.

The analyzer 120 analyzes the cloud information and the requirements forthe requested cloud service, which are obtained through the inputter 10.The service divider 122 divides the cloud service requested by the userinto a plurality of cloud service segments according to the timeinterval. In one exemplary embodiment, the service divider 122 selectsan available cloud group consisting of clouds that can provide therequested cloud service. Then, the service divider 122 compares serviceprices among the clouds belonging to the available cloud group, andperforms time division on the requested cloud service into cloud servicesegments, each of which allows the service price to remain in the lowestduring each time interval. Then, the service divider 122 designates thecloud to which each of the cloud service segments is mapped.

The service allocator 124 distributes and places the plurality of cloudservice segments in the respective clouds using mapping information ofthe cloud service segments and the clouds. The service manager 126provides the cloud service user with only one access address in orderfor the cloud service user to recognize the divided cloud servicesegments as a single cloud service. The storage module 14 stores theinformation input through the inputter 10, the analysis from theanalyzer 120, and information required for the operations of thecontroller 12.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a cloud service segmentation anddistribution, placement process by the cloud service broker apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the inputter 10 obtains all cloudinformation from the cloud service provider and receives a cloud servicerequest from cloud service user 2-2, as depicted as {circle around (1)}.The cloud information may relate to types of cloud services offered byeach cloud, cloud service prices, Service Level Agreement (SLA), etc.The inputter 10 may also receive a desired price for the requested cloudservice, the type of cloud service, and the performance level of therequested cloud service, along with the cloud service request from cloudservice user 2-2.

Then, the analyzer 120 analyzes the cloud information and user'srequirements for the requested cloud service, which are obtained throughthe inputter 10, as depicted as {circle around (2)}. Thereafter, asdepicted as {circle around (3)}, the service divider 122 divides therequested cloud service into a plurality of cloud service segments basedon the analysis from the analyzer 120. For example, as shown in FIG. 4,the requested cloud service 100 is divided into three cloud servicesegments 100-1, 100-2, and 100-3.

Then, as depicted as {circle around (4)}, the service allocator 124distributes and places the plurality of cloud service segments in theclouds 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-n−1, and 200-n, respectively, using themapping information of the cloud service segments and the clouds. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 4, cloud service 1 100-1 is placed in cloud-1200-1, cloud service 2 100-2 is placed in cloud-N-1 200-N-1, and cloudservice 3 100-3 is placed in cloud-2 200-2.

As depicted as {circle around (5)}, the service manager 126 provides thecloud service user with one access address such that the cloud serviceuser can recognize the divided cloud service segments as a single cloudservice.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a service segmentation process by theservice divider and an example of service segmentation using a graph ofclouds' service prices p over time t.

Referring to FIG. 5, the service divider 122 may primarily select anavailable cloud group that can provide the cloud service requested bythe user, as depicted in 1220. The service divider 122 may select theavailable cloud group by analyzing the cloud information and the user'srequirements. For example, the available cloud group may be selectedbased on both the SLA with the cloud service user and the cloudinformation.

Thereafter, the service divider 122 compares the service prices amongthe clouds of the available cloud group, and time-divides the requestedcloud service into a plurality of cloud service segments, each of whichallows the service price p to remain in the lowest during each timeinterval. In this case, the service divider 122 compares the serviceprices among the clouds, selects a cloud that supports the lowestservice price at a specific time point t, and designates a cloud serviceprovided by the selected cloud as the cloud service segment from thespecific time point t until another cloud offers a lower service price.At each time point at which price lines of adjacent clouds cross eachother, the service divider 122 performs the service segmentation andswitch one cloud service segment to another cloud service segment. Theaforesaid service segmentation is repeatedly performed on the totallength of cloud service requested by the user.

Herein, an example of the aforesaid process is described with referenceto the time t-service price p graph shown in FIG. 5. The example assumesthat an available cloud group consists of cloud-1, cloud-2, and cloud-3.The cloud service requested by the user is divided into cloud servicesegments, each of which is provided by one of the clouds belonging tothe available cloud group at the lowest price for a designated timeinterval. For example, for the first time interval 500-1, cloud service1 100-1 provided by cloud-1 is selected as the cloud service segment ofthe requested cloud service; for the second time interval 500-2, cloudservice 2 100-2 provided by cloud-3 is selected as the cloud servicesegment; and for the third time interval 500-3, cloud service 3 100-3provided by cloud-2 is selected as the cloud service segment. That is,the requested cloud service is time-sequentially divided into cloudservice 1 100-1, cloud service 2 100-2, and cloud service 3 100-3. Theaforesaid segmentation process is performed on the total length of thecloud service requested by the user. A segmentation time point toperform segmentation of the requested cloud service is determined as thetime point at which the service price lines of adjacent clouds crosseach other, and in FIG. 5, a time point 510 between the first timeinterval 500-1 and the second time interval 500-2 and a time point 520between the second time interval 500-2 and the third time interval 500-3are the segmentation time points. Then, clouds are designated to thedivided cloud service segments, as depicted in 1224. For example,cloud-1 is designated to cloud service 1 100-1 for the first timeinterval 500-1, cloud-3 is designated to cloud service 2 100-2 for thesecond time interval 500-2, and cloud-2 is designated to cloud service 3100-3 for the third time interval 500-3.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a service placement process performedby a service allocator according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the service allocator 124 issues a requestfor the placement of all divided service segments in designated clouds.The service allocator 124 may issue the placement request at the time twhen the cloud service is executed, or in the case where a cloudsupports scheduling, the service allocator 124 may schedule theplacement of cloud service such that the cloud service can be run at theuser's desired time. For all cloud service segments, the serviceallocator 124 issues a request for the cloud service placement to eachof the designated clouds, thereby completing the placement of cloudservice segments. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, cloud-1 200-1 isrequested for the placement of cloud service 1 100-1, cloud-3 200-3 isrequested for the placement of cloud service 2 100-2, and cloud-2 200-2is requested for the placement of cloud service 3 100-3. The aforesaidexemplary embodiment is provided only for easy understanding of thepresent invention, and aspects of the present disclosure are not limitedthereto.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a service connection managementprocess by the service manager according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, the service manager 126 provides a single accessaddress to the cloud service user such that the cloud service user canrecognize the divided cloud service segments as a single cloud service.As shown in FIG. 7, when the cloud service user accesses the cloudservice with the provided single access address, the service manager 126forwards the access attempt to a cloud designated to the cloud servicesegment that is associated with time t. For example, if time t at whichthe cloud service user uses the cloud service is t2≤t≤t3 (100-2), theservice manager 126 forwards the access attempt from the cloud serviceuser to a service address of cloud 3 200-3.

The service manager 126 supports service migration between clouds when aprovider of the cloud service segment is switched from one cloud toanother. For the service migration, there may be used a method ofmaintaining consistency of service by transmitting only informationabout the status of cloud service or a method of reproducing the cloudservice using an image of the cloud service that has been generated byanother cloud through a snapshot. The service manager 126 enables thecloud service user to recognize the divided cloud segments as the singlecloud service.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing cloud service prices of clouds over time forexplaining the effects of cloud service placement by the cloud servicebroker apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, a single cloud service that is conventionallyplaced in a single cloud by the cloud service broker apparatus can beplaced in a distributed manner to each of multiple clouds that ensuresthe lowest price for each time interval.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the cloud service segmentation anddistribution according to the exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the cloud service broker apparatus may reduce thecosts for placement of a requested cloud service in a cloud by utilizingmultiple clouds. For example, compared to the case 900 where a singlecloud service is provided through a single cloud, the cloud service canbe provided to the cloud service user at a lower price when a pluralityof cloud service segments are placed in multiple clouds by taking intoaccount the service prices according to time. In addition, it ispossible to increase a cloud service broker's profit from brokerage.

The cloud service broker apparatus described above is applicable to acloud service brokerage platform, as well as to a cost-effective serviceplacement method in a federated cloud environment, which is a kind of acloud service brokerage platform, and in a large-scale single cloudenvironment in which distributed data centers are operated.

A number of examples have been described above. Nevertheless, it will beunderstood that various modifications may be made. For example, suitableresults may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in adifferent order and/or if components in a described system,architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different mannerand/or replaced or supplemented by other components or theirequivalents. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cloud service broker apparatus comprising: acontroller configured to provide a brokerage service between a pluralityof cloud service providers in a cloud and a cloud service user bydividing a cloud service requested by the cloud service user into aplurality of cloud service segments and distributing each of the cloudservice segments to each of the cloud service providers, the controllerincluding an analyzer configured to analyze cloud information andrequirements of the cloud service user for the cloud service request,the requirements including a length of time specified by the cloudservice user for which the user will access the cloud service; a servicedivider configured to divide the requested cloud service into theplurality of cloud service segments according to time intervals based onan analysis from the analyzer; a service allocator configured todistribute and place each of the plurality of cloud service segments ineach of cloud service providers using mapping information of the cloudservice segments; and a service manager configured to provide a singleaccess address to the cloud service user such that the cloud serviceuser recognizes the divided cloud service segments as a single cloudservice, wherein the service divider is configured to select anavailable cloud group from the cloud that can provide the cloud servicerequested by the cloud service user, compare service prices of the cloudservice providers belonging to the available cloud group, time-divide,at division time points, the requested cloud service into the pluralityof cloud service segments having an associated time interval, such thatthe requested cloud service having the length of time specified by thecloud service user is divided into the plurality of cloud servicesegments having a combined length of time equal to the length of timespecified by the cloud service user, select a cloud service providerthat provides the lowest service price for each respective timeinterval, and designate each of the cloud service providers in the cloudgroup to each of the cloud service segments, respectively, wherein thedivision time points are determined among times between a start time andan end time of the requested cloud service, wherein the requested cloudservice is divided based on the division time points so that there is notime gap between adjacent time intervals, wherein the service dividerperforms service segmentation on the requested cloud service andswitches one cloud service segment to another cloud service segment ateach time point at which service price lines of adjacent clouds crosseach other, and repeatedly performs the cloud service segmentation onthe total length of the requested cloud service, wherein in response toa plurality of access attempts to access the cloud service duringdifferent cloud service segments among the plurality of cloud servicesegments, the cloud service broker forwards each respective accessattempt to the respective cloud service provider designated for therespective cloud service segment, and wherein the cloud service usergenerates the plurality of access attempts to access the cloud serviceby providing the single access address to the cloud service brokerduring the time intervals corresponding to each of the different cloudservice segments.
 2. The cloud service broker apparatus of claim 1,wherein the controller divides a single cloud service requested by thecloud service user into the plurality of cloud service segments based onservice prices.
 3. The cloud service broker apparatus of claim 1,wherein the cloud information includes types of cloud services providedby a cloud, a service provide and Service Level Agreement (SLA), and therequirements for requested cloud service includes a cloud service user'sdesired service price, type and performance level of requested cloudservice.
 4. The cloud service broker apparatus of claim 1, wherein theservice allocator requests a designated cloud for placement of a cloudservice segment at a time of use of the requested cloud service, orschedules placement of a cloud service segment in a designated cloud inorder for the cloud service user to use the requested cloud service at adesired time.
 5. The cloud service broker apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe service manager supports service migration between clouds when aprovider of the cloud service segment is switched from one cloud toanother cloud.
 6. The cloud service broker apparatus of claim 5, whereinthe service manager supports service migration that maintainsconsistency of a cloud service by transmitting only information about astatus of the cloud service to the cloud.
 7. The cloud service brokerapparatus of claim 5, wherein the service manager supports servicemigration by generating an image of the cloud service through snapshotand allowing another cloud to reproduce the cloud service through theimage.
 8. A cloud service broker method comprising: analyzing cloudinformation and requirements of a cloud service user for a cloud servicerequest, the requirements provided by the cloud service user including alength of time specified by the cloud service user for the requestedcloud service; dividing the requested cloud service into a plurality ofcloud service segments according to time intervals based on theanalysis, such that the requested cloud service having the length oftime specified by the cloud service user is divided into the pluralityof cloud service segments having a combined length of time equal to thelength of time specified by the cloud service user; providing a singleaccess address to the cloud service user such that the cloud serviceuser recognizes the divided cloud service segments as a single cloudservice; and distributing and placing each of the plurality of cloudservice segments to each of a cloud service provider in a cloud groupselected from a cloud using mapping information of the cloud servicesegments, wherein the dividing of the cloud service into the pluralityof cloud service segments includes selecting the cloud group consistingof the cloud service providers that can provide the cloud servicerequested by the cloud service user, comparing service prices among thecloud service providers belonging to the available cloud group,time-dividing, at division time points, the requested cloud service intothe plurality of cloud service segments, each of which allows theservice price to remain in the lowest during each of the time intervals,selecting the cloud service provider that provides the lowest serviceprice for each time interval, each of which allows the service price toremain the lowest during each of the time intervals from the designatedtime point until another cloud service provider provides a lower serviceprice, and designating each of the clouds to each of the cloud servicesegments, wherein the division time points are determined among timesbetween a start time and an end time of the requested cloud service,wherein the requested cloud service is divided based on the divisiontime points so that there is no time gap between adjacent timeintervals, wherein the method further includes performing servicesegmentation on the requested cloud service and switching one cloudservice segment to another cloud service segment at each time point atwhich service price lines of adjacent clouds cross each other,repeatedly performing the cloud service segmentation on a total lengthof the requested cloud service, and in response to a plurality of accessattempts to access the cloud service during different cloud servicesegments among the plurality of cloud service segments, forwarding eachrespective access attempt to the respective cloud service providerdesignated for the respective cloud service segment, and wherein thecloud service user generates the plurality of access attempts to accessthe cloud service by providing the single access address to the cloudservice broker during the time intervals corresponding to each of thedifferent cloud service segments.
 9. The cloud service broker method ofclaim 8, wherein the distribution and placement in each of the cloudscomprises requesting a designated cloud for placement of a cloud servicesegment at a time of use of the requested cloud service, or schedulingplacement of a cloud service segment in a designated cloud in order forthe cloud service user to use the requested cloud service at a desiredtime.